Fighting pain with courage: The sickle cell anaemia warriors of Kisumu

Sickle cell disease is caused by a mutation in the gene that produces hemoglobin, which results in red blood cells becoming stiff, sticky, and shaped like a sickle. [Courtesy]. 

In Kisumu, Kenya’s third-largest city, life flows like the waters of Lake Victoria—sometimes calm, sometimes turbulent. Known for its tilapia, fiery politics, and vibrant markets, the city stands tall as a regional hub in Nyanza.

Yet, amid this energy lies a silent health crisis. Sickle cell disease—a condition inherited in silence—has quietly embedded itself in Kisumu’s DNA, affecting thousands and pushing struggling families to the brink.